Microsoft Teases Indie Games with Preview Trailer

In addition to the list of developers released a few weeks ago and the list of upcoming games that came last week, Microsoft now has a preview video that shows off some of the upcoming independent games heading the Xbox One.

Make no mistake, this is a Microsoft-created fluff piece. Microsoft wants to make sure, after the negative press it got from not only last year’s PR bumbles but also as a result of criticism by independent developers like Fez‘s Phil Fish and Retro City Rampage‘s Brian Provinciano, that people know they’re trying something new. Even so, they show off some games that have me really excited about the independent offerings coming to Xbox One.

One of the most interesting is FRU, which the Xbox Wire post describes as “a Kinect-based puzzle platformer.” Seeing it in motion offers up some very interesting possibilities for the Kinect, and a suggestion of what developers can do with the Xbox One’s camera array if they get creative.

Also previewed are It Draws a Red Box, Spectra: 8bit Racing, Strike Suit Zero and Super Time Force. It Draws a Red Box will be able to utilize the 8 controllers the Xbox One can handle at once. If you can get that many players and controllers in the room for a game, it could be an awesome experience. Spectra uses music built on Gameboy processors by Chipzel (of Super Hexagon fame) to generate race tracks. Strike Suit Zero is a Macross-style mecha space combat game, and Super Time Force is an action platformer from the same team behind the upcoming Xbox One exclusive, Below.

This is just a short list of what’s coming, and there are tons more to look forward to. Right now it looks like Xbox One is turning into a great place to be for indie games.